ROMAN
CATHOLICISMPHILIPPINES
ITS BRIEF HISTORY | ITS TODAY | ITS ORGANIZATION
in

A BRIEF
HISTORY

ROMAN CATHOLICISM IN THE PHIL| A BRIEF HISTO
Magellan-a veteran Portuguese soldier, returned from
the Spice Islands of the Moluccas, he approached the
Portuguese King with a proposal to find a westward
route from Portugal to the rich islands of Spices, on the
opposite side of the world.

The King of Spain provided Magellan with a fleet of 5 ships: Trinidad,
Victoria, Concepcion, Santiago and San Antonio and started sailing
on August 10, 1519.
ROMAN CATHOLICISM IN THE PHIL| A BRIEF HISTO

It was manned by a crew of 270 men and there were 2 chaplains both
were secular priests: Father Pedro de Valderama and another one a
French by nationality who was later abandoned by Magellan in the coast
of Brazil.
ROMAN CATHOLICISM IN THE PHIL| A BRIEF HISTO

On March 6, 1521 after an exhausting voyage across the Pacific Ocean,
the explorers reached the Landrones Island group (Marianas). From
there, they veered southwards in the direction of the Moluccas.
ROMAN CATHOLICISM IN THE PHIL| A BRIEF HISTO

On the 16th of March, a body of land unexpectedly aroused before their
eyes, it was the coast of the island of Samar. Magellan called this the
Island of Saint Lazarus for it was the Saturday before the Passion
Sunday.
ROMAN CATHOLICISM IN THE PHIL| A BRIEF HISTO

On the island of Homonhon, they pitched their tents for the sick crew to
recover, thanks to the friendly welcome of the natives who gave them
fresh provisions.
ROMAN CATHOLICISM IN THE PHIL| A BRIEF HISTO

Shortly afterwards, the fleet sailed again. On the night of March 28, they
saw a bonfire at a nearby island and they headed towards it. This was
the Limasawa Island in the southern tip of Leyte. Here, Magellan was
greeted officially by nine men who were joyful of their arrival.
ROMAN CATHOLICISM IN THE PHIL| A BRIEF HISTO

Then, on March 31, 1521, in this Island of
Limawasa, the first Holy Sacrifice of the
Mass was celebrated by Father Pedro de
Valderama. This Mass was attended by
both the remaining crew and the natives. At
the consecration, all the canons saluted our
Eucharistic Lord.
ROMAN CATHOLICISM IN THE PHIL| A BRIEF HISTO

ROMAN CATHOLICISM IN THE PHIL| A BRIEF HISTO
After the Mass, the natives expressed their
desire to be Christians and for this, Magellan
planted hastily a big cross on the top of the
hill. This was the first Holy Cross planted in
these isles, and it was the Easter Sunday
when they do it!

ROMAN CATHOLICISM IN THE PHIL| A BRIEF HISTO
On April 4, Magellan reached the island of Cebu and met Raja
Humabon (King) then both put a drop of blood from his right arm into a
cup mixed with wine and drunk from it. This is the "Kasi-kasi" or the
blood-compact, which sealed their friendship. Magellan therefore came
for trade and not for conquest.

ROMAN CATHOLICISM IN THE PHIL| A BRIEF HISTO
The King had had no sons but that his eldest daughter is married to his
nephew who is the "rajamuda" (crowned prince). This would be his
successor. He added that when the fathers and mothers grew old they
received no further honor, but their children commanded them.

ROMAN CATHOLICISM IN THE PHIL| A BRIEF HISTO
Magellan grabbed this opportunity to explain the Christian law of love
and respect for parents and elders even they were old and weak. He
also narrated the Bible stories of the Creation, Adam and Eve, life after
death and other Christian doctrines. Magellan offered to baptize them if
they wanted and to bring priests the next time when they come
to instruct them in greater depth of the Catholic religion.

ROMAN CATHOLICISM IN THE PHIL| A BRIEF HISTO
On April 14, 1521, a week after the arrival of Magellan
in Cebu, Father de Valderama erected and blessed the
Holy Cross in the middle of their settlement. There in
that plaza, that same day, the King and the Queen
with 800 of their subjects - men women and children
were baptized.

After baptism, as a gift to the Queen, Magellan gave
her the statue of the Infant Jesus whom the Filipinos
loved very much and called Him the "Santo Niño of
Cebu" and has become the symbol of the Catholic
faith in the Philippines. The original statue is
venerated even until today in His Basilica Minore
under the guardianship of the
Augustinian Fathers.
ROMAN CATHOLICISM IN THE PHIL| A BRIEF HISTO

ROMAN CATHOLICISM IN THE PHIL| A BRIEF HISTO
The next morning, at 3 o’clock, Magellan with 60 men arrived in
Mactan shore. He neither took normal battle precautions in an
unknown terrain, nor provided adequate fire support on the shore. One
of the natives attacked him with a bamboo spear but Magellan killed
him with his lance.

ROMAN CATHOLICISM IN THE PHIL| A BRIEF HISTO
Then Magellan tried to grab his sword, but could only draw it halfway
since they wounded him on his arm. Another dashed on Magellan and
wounded his left leg with a large cutlass. Finally, falling down they
immediately rushed on him with their iron and bamboo spears and their
cutlasses.

ROMAN CATHOLICISM IN THE PHIL| A BRIEF HISTO
Magellan was defeated by Lapulapu and the life of the first man who
circumnavigated the globe was thus tragically ended.

ROMAN CATHOLICISM IN THE PHIL| A BRIEF HISTO
After Magellan's defeat, the Cebuanos lose heart and repudiated their
alliance killing the remaining 20 Europeans and burning their ship the
Concepcion. Thus, most of them returned to their idols. They buried
on the ground both the Cross and Our Lady's statue. But they keep
with them the Santo Niño whom they revered as the "Bathala", the
Supreme God.

ROMAN CATHOLICISM IN THE PHIL| A BRIEF HISTO
They invoke Him in time of drought, by giving a ritual bath to the Santo
Niño in the seashore. In the time of epidemy, they made a procession
around the village with this statue. Not everything therefore is lost in
this first effort to Christianize the country. These miracles made them
know that this Statue represents the one and true God.

Several years later, the next expedition was of Ruy Lopez
de Villalobos who departed from Mexico on November
1, 1542 and arrived at Baganga Bay in Davao Oriental
on February 2, 1543 and named the area "Philippines"
in honor to Philip the Prince of Asturias, son and
successor of Charles V to the throne of Spain.
ROMAN CATHOLICISM IN THE PHIL| A BRIEF HISTO

PHILIPPINESTODAY
CATHOLICISM THE

Catholicismin the PHILIPPINES TODAY
The Philippines is the third largest Catholic nation in the world
and the first in Asia.

BELIEFS:
Catholicismin the PHILIPPINES TODAY
The basic religious beliefs of Roman Catholics derived from the
New Testament. That God entered the world through the
Incarnation of his Son, the Christ or Messiah, Jesus of Nazareth,
that the Church follows the life and teachings of Jesus, whose death
is followed by resurrection from the dead after which he sends the
Holy Spirit to assist believers.

Catholicismin the PHILIPPINES TODAY
This triple mission within the Godhead is described doctrinally as
the divine Trinity, God one in nature but consisting in three
divine persons. The Roman Catholics believe and follow the seven
Sacraments:
BELIEFS:

Catholicismin the PHILIPPINES TODAY
BAPTISM HOLY EUCHARIST CONFIRMATION

Catholicismin the PHILIPPINES TODAY
RECONCILIATION
HOLY ORDERS
HOLY MATRIMONY
ANOINTING
OF THE SICK

Catholicismin the PHILIPPINES TODAY
Roman Catholics worship God through its Liturgy or the sacrament
of the Eucharist, through mass usually every Sunday of the week.

ROMAN CATHOLICISM IN THE PHIL| A BRIEF HISTO
FIESTAS:
If there is one Catholic tradition the Spaniards left the Filipinos with,
it’s the celebration of a patron saint's feast. The Philippines
celebrates many festivals in each month of the year. Among them
are:

ROMAN CATHOLICISM IN THE PHIL| A BRIEF HISTO
FIESTA:
Celebrated every 9th of January, is
the largest procession in the country,
carries a life-size, blackwood statue
of Jesus through the streets of
Quiapo.
FIESTA: FEAST OF THE BLACK NAZARENE

ROMAN CATHOLICISM IN THE PHIL| A BRIEF HISTO
FIESTA:
A 3-day celebration in Kalibo, Panay
every third week of January. This is
considered as Filipino version of
Mardi Gras
FIESTA: ATI-ATIHAN FESTIVAL

ROMAN CATHOLICISM IN THE PHIL| A BRIEF HISTO
FIESTA:
Held each year on the third Sunday of
January in Cebu City to honor the
Santo Niño.
FIESTA: SINULOG FESTIVAL

ROMAN CATHOLICISM IN THE PHIL| A BRIEF HISTO
FIESTA:
Is a spectacular event in the province
of Iloilo where people in unique
costumes dance all day and night
every 4th week of January to
commemorate the Christianization of
the natives and to honor the Holy
Child Jesus
FIESTA: DINAGYANG FESTIVAL

ROMAN CATHOLICISM IN THE PHIL| A BRIEF HISTO
FIESTA:
Held in Jaro, Iloilo City every 2nd day
of February for the feat of Nuestra
Senora de Candelaria.
FIESTA: FEAST OF OUR LADY OF CANDLES

ROMAN CATHOLICISM IN THE PHIL| A BRIEF HISTO
FIESTA:
A Lenten movement held in Cebu City
during April 1 where Cebuanos
devotees and other near cities and
town people do their repentant
cavalcade through the 14 Station of
the Cross in the cities.
FIESTA: VIA CRUSIS

ROMAN CATHOLICISM IN THE PHIL| A BRIEF HISTO
FIESTA:
An annual crusade to the shrine of
Our Lady of Manaoag in Pangasinan
and held every 2nd week of April.
FIESTA: FEAST OF OUR LADY OF MANAOAG

ROMAN CATHOLICISM IN THE PHIL| A BRIEF HISTO
FIESTA:
Held every 1st Sunday of July at
Bocaue, Bulacan, honors the Mahal
na Krus sa Wawa (Holy Cross of
Wawa).
FIESTA: PAGODA FESTIVAL

ROMAN CATHOLICISM IN THE PHIL| A BRIEF HISTO
FIESTA:
Celebrated in May to honor the Virgin
Mary.
FIESTA: FLORES DE MAYO

ROMAN CATHOLICISM IN THE PHIL| A BRIEF HISTO
FIESTA:
Marks the celebration of Christmas
every December 16.
FIESTA: SIMBANG GABI

PHILIPPINECHURCH
ORGANIZATIONof the

ORGANIZATION OF THE CHURCH
FIESTA:
Catholic church policy is under the centralized government under the
pope, currently Pope Francis, who is regarded as the successor of
Peter, the apostle. The Roman Catholic church is structured locally
into neighborhood parishes and regional dioceses administered by
bishops.

ORGANIZATION OF THE CHURCH
FIESTA:
In the Philippines, there are 16 archidioces, 56 dioceses, 6 territorial
prelatures, 1 military ordinariates, and 7 apostolic vicariates.

ROMAN
CATHOLICISMPHILIPPINES
ITS BRIEF HISTORY | ITS TODAY | ITS ORGANIZATION
in